We all face stressors every day, for example missing a train, an argument with a friend or partner, or a tough deadline at work or school. How do we recover from these small but constant stressors in our everyday life? Can we actually measure how well someone recovers in everyday life? And could this help us detect early signs of mental health problems?

To answer these questions, we summarized 36 scientific papers that used experience sampling, a method where people report on their feelings and stress levels several times a day. This method is powerful to track how people recover from stress in real time, what we called daily resilience.

Daily resilience was measured either by (1) asking people how well they think they recover, or (2) analyzing how their mood changes after stressful moments. The second approach gives more insight into the recovery process, but needs improvement. We also found some patterns: People who sleep well and feel optimistic tend to recover more quickly from stress. People who are struggling with their mental health often take longer to bounce back.

These daily patterns could help us recognize early warning signs of mental health issues, before bigger problems arise. Understanding how we deal with everyday stress could help supporting mental health in the long run.

Conclusion
Measuring daily resilience can help detect early signs of mental health difficulties. Although measures should be improved, the insights of studies to daily resilience and future mental health can help develop timely support or interventions. Our review highlights the value of tracking mental health in everyday life, not just after major life events.